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IBM OpenPages vs RSA Archer vs SAP BusinessObjects GRC comparison

 

Comparison Buyer's Guide

Executive Summary

Review summaries and opinions

We asked business professionals to review the solutions they use. Here are some excerpts of what they said:
 

Mindshare comparison

As of April 2026, in the GRC category, the mindshare of IBM OpenPages is 2.5%, down from 5.5% compared to the previous year. The mindshare of RSA Archer is 5.4%, down from 17.2% compared to the previous year. The mindshare of SAP BusinessObjects GRC is 1.5%, down from 2.0% compared to the previous year. It is calculated based on PeerSpot user engagement data.
GRC Mindshare Distribution
ProductMindshare (%)
RSA Archer5.4%
IBM OpenPages2.5%
SAP BusinessObjects GRC1.5%
Other90.6%
GRC
 

Featured Reviews

Gabriele  Meneguzzi - PeerSpot reviewer
GRC Practice Leader at Stratos Analytics
Have improved operational control and simplified internal workflows through a clear user interface
The most useful features in IBM OpenPages are the workflow features and front-end. The workflow feature in IBM OpenPages is very flexible, easy to configure, and can help design every kind of process, while the front-end is very useful, clear, simple, and dynamic. The benefit of a centralized platform in risk management, such as IBM OpenPages, is that it allows sharing information and guarantees a central framework of risk and control. The dashboards in IBM OpenPages help with monitoring processes for different users and profiles, and we use the dashboard extensively to show the state of different processes to control them. IBM OpenPages integrates effectively with other tools and existing infrastructure for my customers as we integrate other tools, using APIs to match different information, though some other tools may better support integration. IBM offers Connect, an add-on for integration, but we do not use it, relying solely on API. The reporting tools in IBM OpenPages have very strong potential because they are linked with Cognos IBM, a business intelligence tool, allowing for very good and complex reports, though creating these reports requires skills in business intelligence to get the most out of IBM OpenPages.
CJ
Information Security Specialist at Dubai Health Authority
Centralized management strengthens compliance with good look and feel
From my perspective as a customer and end user, Archer has an impressive look and feel, but the most adaptive feature is its ease of configuration which helps to enhance our process according to our maturity. It's more about our organization getting centralized with an integrated approach that focuses on risk governance and compliance. When can provide a detailed dashboards to management with the details of risks from top-down or bottom-up prioritizing actions based on its criticality or necessity. This allows us to show end users and management where the issues lie and effectively demonstrate accountability and visibility in compliance.
Vishal Guthula - PeerSpot reviewer
Sr Advanced Analytics Analyst at a manufacturing company with 10,001+ employees
Experienced security and easy understanding with advanced customization enhances efficiency
Regarding automation, they could enhance features for checking real-time data when someone attempts to access data without proper permissions. Currently, we do not receive immediate alerts; we only discover issues after something goes wrong. Having prevention alerts immediately when someone triggers unauthorized actions would allow us to address these situations proactively.

Quotes from Members

We asked business professionals to review the solutions they use. Here are some excerpts of what they said:
 

Pros

"The most useful features in IBM OpenPages are the workflow features and front-end, as noted by Ian Francis, an IBM expert lab, with the workflow feature being very flexible, easy to configure, and able to help design every kind of process, while the front-end is very useful, clear, simple, and dynamic."
"The content, reporting, and workflow features stand out as the most valuable aspects."
"IBM OpenPages saves time in my work as a developer."
"Good in ORM and compliance, analytics, custom reporting, features for our board including risk management, and good support for Basel regulations."
"IBM OpenPages provides time savings in recording risk management components."
"The most valuable features are the workflow engine, calculations, and security rules."
"Everything about IBM OpenPages is valuable, particularly when compared to other solutions in the market like MetricStream, from which we switched due to its feasibility, user-friendliness, and performance."
"The ability to keep a record of internal incidents in the company, and also the monitoring of Key Indicators."
"Previously, they were purely on Excel files and getting data from the applications inside Excel or Word format, and I think this is the first solution they went to, and this is the best tool for GRC, governance, risk, and compliance."
"Its user interface is pretty neat, and there is flexibility in generating the data. You can customize reports at any level. You can directly get reports in Tableau format. If you want to generate statistical data, you can create reports with graphs. There is an adequate amount of flexibility for changing the format, the type of graphs, etc."
"Among the most valuable features of this solution is the easy implementation and the degree of automation that it offers."
"The most valuable features are the advanced workflow and the dashboards. This tool can present data wonderfully to management, and it is easy for them to manage the risk plans."
"RSA Archer has reduced the time and effort required for meetings."
"RSA is a very rich application, and I like its adaptive suggestion where, based on your users and the class of data, it can actually recommend you the proper control to choose."
"You can do wonders with this tool, but you have to be very specific in your utilization."
"Easy to implement with a high level of automation."
"Initial setup was straightforward. It took maybe one week."
"It is wonderful from the control perspective. The GRC tools help you in knowing what are the risk controls, how to mitigate risks, and how to ensure that there are no conflicts between the roles. From the user perspective, you get to know what are the permission risks and access risks. You get a lot of useful information."
"We have enterprise clients for the product."
"The customization options in the dashboards inside SAP BusinessObjects GRC are highly valuable, and the real-time monitoring feature performs effectively, allowing teams to maintain data security by restricting domain visibility."
"The stability of SAP BusinessObjects GRC is acceptable."
"It improved the organization's reporting culture, giving us insights into health, management, and operational results."
"It is wonderful from the control perspective. The GRC tools help you in knowing what are the risk controls, how to mitigate risks, and how to ensure that there are no conflicts between the roles."
"The tool helps create reports for projects, including the creation of any ad-hoc reports"
 

Cons

"IBM OpenPages needs improvement in its UI. Currently, it is difficult to see the relationships (associations/parents) between all items unless you click on the item itself."
"IBM OpenPages could improve by adding more conditions to workflows, as some existing conditions might not work and can produce errors."
"Some self-relationships are not available in OpenPages' relationship model."
"Pricing! It's very expensive just for the licenses."
"The reporting tools in IBM OpenPages have very strong potential because they are linked with Cognos IBM, a business intelligence tool, allowing for very good and complex reports, though creating these reports requires skills in business intelligence to get the most out of IBM OpenPages."
"IBM OpenPages needs improvement in its UI. Currently, it is difficult to see the relationships (associations/parents) between all items unless you click on the item itself."
"I believe there's room for improvement in establishing connections with external information."
"It would be useful to have more out-of-the-box functionality, especially triggers and calculations."
"The dashboarding in this solution needs to be improved, specifically the graphics."
"There should be built-in integration mechanisms, for example, for organizations switching from platforms like ServiceNow to Archer, instead of custom integrations for each client."
"A remaining area for improvement is integration. There should be built-in integration mechanisms, for example, for organizations switching from platforms like ServiceNow to Archer, instead of custom integrations for each client."
"There were so many problems that we had found. One time, the search index was not working. We also faced slowness in Archer, but I resolved this issue."
"The product is expensive, and there are additional costs if you need to integrate more licenses or want more features."
"The interface just looks old."
"There should be a way to export and get data from the system in PDF or PowerPoint presentation format. This would be a great addition."
"Recently, we made a suggestion for cross references, like for one application to another. There were limitations there, so we're hoping that will be included in the next upgrade."
"BusinessObjects is very dated. It is not that user-friendly."
"Currently, we do not receive immediate alerts; we only discover issues after something goes wrong."
"I am working on features that are not functioning as expected, which creates significant difficulties in management."
"An additional feature I would like to see is the option to add wait time and integrate sources in wait time."
"We cannot actively log in to the system. It should also improve support."
"I think the old system is better than the new one. From an improvement perspective, the tool needs to ensure that the new technologies it offers are better than the old ones."
"BusinessObjects is very dated. It is not that user-friendly. It should be made more user-friendly. In addition, if they could make predictive analytics an embedded part of it where people get to know what is there to offer, it would be great."
"Technical support could be better and faster."
 

Pricing and Cost Advice

Information not available
"RSA Archer's price is justifiable and not as expensive, compared to ServiceNow. I have heard that the licensing for ServiceNow is much more expensive. I'm unaware whether there are any additional costs after licensing fees."
"I am not 100% familiar with that, especially with their new model. I just know that the way they've licensed per user to scale is good."
"As I am a developer and responsible for providing production support, I do not have personal knowledge of the pricing. However, my colleagues claim that it is very expensive in comparison with other tools."
"The pricing is okay. The licensing costs are very reasonable; it is very affordable to us."
"The license is costly for the solution, but the remaining set up and maintenance is quite cheaper."
"I am not sure about other companies, but it's quite expensive."
"The price of the solution is very affordable."
"The solution is not at all a cheap product."
"The product's licensing costs involve a one-time purchase. The tool also allows others to make annual payments towards the licensing charges of the product."
"The license is costly."
"SAP BusinessObjects GRC is expensive."
"There is a yearly licensing cost. I would rate their pricing 4 out of 5."
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Top Industries

By visitors reading reviews
Financial Services Firm
25%
Manufacturing Company
9%
Construction Company
7%
Comms Service Provider
6%
Financial Services Firm
21%
Insurance Company
11%
Manufacturing Company
7%
Government
5%
Manufacturing Company
12%
Construction Company
11%
Healthcare Company
10%
Financial Services Firm
10%
 

Company Size

By reviewers
Large Enterprise
Midsize Enterprise
Small Business
By reviewers
Company SizeCount
Small Business9
Midsize Enterprise1
By reviewers
Company SizeCount
Small Business9
Midsize Enterprise6
Large Enterprise25
By reviewers
Company SizeCount
Small Business1
Large Enterprise6
 

Questions from the Community

What needs improvement with IBM OpenPages?
There is nothing in particular that needs improvement in IBM OpenPages, although reporting could be improved to make ...
What is your primary use case for IBM OpenPages?
My customers' main use cases for IBM OpenPages include ICT risk, operational risk management, and regulatory and comp...
What advice do you have for others considering IBM OpenPages?
For those planning to use IBM OpenPages, I recommend defining exactly what you want and understanding how IBM OpenPag...
What needs improvement with RSA Archer?
While it provides benefits in terms of security, the pricing is a bit higher than customers typically expect. It woul...
What is your primary use case for RSA Archer?
Regarding the compliance, risk, and governance tools, I am comfortable discussing the tools in the GRC category. The ...
What advice do you have for others considering RSA Archer?
I have been in touch with about three companies who use RSA Archer actively in the compliance area. These companies u...
What needs improvement with SAP BusinessObjects GRC?
Regarding automation, they could enhance features for checking real-time data when someone attempts to access data wi...
What is your primary use case for SAP BusinessObjects GRC?
I work with SAP, and currently I am working with other domains such as Power BI, Microsoft, and in the AI sector. Whe...
What advice do you have for others considering SAP BusinessObjects GRC?
The overall rating for SAP BusinessObjects GRC is 8.5 out of 10. I would rate GRC solutions at eight. Nothing is perf...
 

Also Known As

OpenPages
Archer
BusinessObjects GRC
 

Overview

 

Sample Customers

Nationwide, Process Innovation AG, OSRAM Licht AG, Dep‹sito Central de Valores (DCV), Delta Lloyd Group, Unum
T-Systems, Bridge Point, Equifax, First Data, Global Imaging Company, Manulife Financial
INEOS Melamines GmbH, Banco Galicia
Find out what your peers are saying about RSA, OneTrust, Diligent and others in GRC. Updated: March 2026.
886,719 professionals have used our research since 2012.